Yes it can be done and it is not that difficult.
You will need a saw to cut off parts of the laminate that are not long enough (when u get to the walls).
the cost depends on the size of the room and the quality of laminate flooring you are putting down.
We put laminate flooring in a half bath some time ago.. pulled up the tiles, made sure it was level, added vapor barrier, and installed it.
I hear Mannington floorong is very good.. not available at home depot or lowes though
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hey MS..saw this report on the news the other day..does not really address the cost or "do it yourself" aspects of your question..but does address durability [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]
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Alternatives To Hardwood Floors That Don't Cost Hard-Earned Cash
February 20, 2007
Most people think to put down some hardwood floors they need to put down some hard-earned cash. Well, as NY1’s Jill Scott explains, that's not necessarily the case thanks to some great synthetic alternatives.
NY1 spoke with Lisa Lee Freeman of Shop Smart Magazine at Home Depot where she offered to help consumers get to the bottom of flooring.
“If you go to the store, think about how much abuse your floors are going to take,” said Freeman. “Do you have animals running across them, or little children around the house? In that case, you might want not want solid wood. You might actually want to consider something that is synthetic, that looks like wood.”
Solid wood is obviously the gold standard. It looks beautiful and feels great under your feet. But it is expensive and does require a bit of maintenance.
One alternative is engineered wood.
“Engineered is an alternative to solid wood,” said Freeman. “And it’s nice because it’s real wood and you can get very exotic woods by purchasing engineered wood. But what it basically is, is a veneer of wood. [You’re] not getting a solid wood, so it can’t be refinished more than once or twice.”
This is easy to install and it’s cheaper than solid wood, but under tests Shop Smart Magazine found it can be more vulnerable to dents and scratches than solid wood.
Another great alternative, if you have kids, or pets, or if you need something in a high-traffic area, is laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is actually a picture of wood put onto a dense fiber board.
It is great at resisting dents and scratches, but it’s also very easy to clean. Permanent magic marker can be removed from the flooring with just a little nail polish remover.
This is even cheaper than engineered wood. The draw backs are that it cannot be sanded or refinished. And it can be easily damaged by big spills, like a bucket of water.
Last option, and the least expensive, is vinyl flooring.
“Vinyls, like laminates, are a lot cheaper than solid wood and they are very convincing fakes,” said Freeman. “They are made of synthetic materials that look like wood. If you get a high-quality vinyl it’s very convincing. Cheaper ones may not be as convincing.”
In tests they found quality vinyls were durable and held up well in moisture tests. But, they too can scratch easily.
For more information on flooring alternatives check out the latest issue of Shop Smart Magazine.
The bottom line, if you're looking flooring and get overwhelmed, remember these tips so you can regain your footing.</div></div>
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